2017-2018 Season

[waterhead]

Originally Posted by juckerrules

The problem with 3's last year is who was shooting them. Caupain at 32.5 % & KJ at 30.9%(while firing up 162 of them) was not good.

If Jacob can hit over 41%, like he did last year, he can shoot them all night long as far as I'm concerned. I hope Cumberland can up his % a bit. My hope is that Broome driving the basket will open up clear 3's for others who will then shoot at a higher clip...defenders will have to be wary of both Broome & Cumberland driving & kick-outs might be more open. Inside out games only work when there is a threat inside & last year there wasn't often enough from the guards.

Yah...we played pretty fast and loose at home and on the road slow and tight. It's hard to consistently get the wide open looks when you let the D get set up every time down. If we start attacking right away we can catch them off guard and get some easier buckets. Even our 3's will then be a little more open with kick outs. That doesn't mean we don't want to slow it down on occasion but letting the D get set and passing around the perimeter is just not a dynamic offense.

We gotta have someone breaking the D down here or there to create some different looks. We have to make the defense make decisions because eventually they will make the wrong one and we will get an easy bucket. Just a few more easy buckets could be worth 6 or 7 points which would go a long way. I think our % will go up if we can get some penetration to keep the D honest and moving around a lot.

[kskenyon4]

Originally Posted by waterhead

Yah...we played pretty fast and loose at home and on the road slow and tight. It's hard to consistently get the wide open looks when you let the D get set up every time down. If we start attacking right away we can catch them off guard and get some easier buckets. Even our 3's will then be a little more open with kick outs. That doesn't mean we don't want to slow it down on occasion but letting the D get set and passing around the perimeter is just not a dynamic offense.

We gotta have someone breaking the D down here or there to create some different looks. We have to make the defense make decisions because eventually they will make the wrong one and we will get an easy bucket. Just a few more easy buckets could be worth 6 or 7 points which would go a long way. I think our % will go up if we can get some penetration to keep the D honest and moving around a lot.

A part of the slow and tight on the road probably has something to do with a quote from Mick over the summer that he follows more of a Bill Belichick coaching method of "game by game". He had some bit about how some teams always play cover 2, or always press man to man etc, no matter who they're playing, but Belichick will radically change his defense game to game given the opponent, and that he prescribes to that theory more.

It's an interesting little tid bit, and certainly can play a part in why Mick may be way more lenient for open flow type games at home with a crowd than on the road. I wouldn't expect that to totally flip this year just based off Cane and a couple other personnel changes. Though he did say Cane is a type of PG that can break down a defense no matter how well they are prepped or set up, he's the type of player that frustrates opponents coaches.

[waterhead]

Originally Posted by kskenyon4

A part of the slow and tight on the road probably has something to do with a quote from Mick over the summer that he follows more of a Bill Belichick coaching method of "game by game". He had some bit about how some teams always play cover 2, or always press man to man etc, no matter who they're playing, but Belichick will radically change his defense game to game given the opponent, and that he prescribes to that theory more.

It's an interesting little tid bit, and certainly can play a part in why Mick may be way more lenient for open flow type games at home with a crowd than on the road. I wouldn't expect that to totally flip this year just based off Cane and a couple other personnel changes. Though he did say Cane is a type of PG that can break down a defense no matter how well they are prepped or set up, he's the type of player that frustrates opponents coaches.

I get playing to your strengths etc. Last year we had a slowish, methodical PG who was allergic to turnovers. He was not a dynamic guard and perhaps we were best served slowing the pace down for him and just playing great D to maximize our chances. I think we kind of let 1 player dictate how the rest of the team had to play.

This year I don't think that is going to be our strong point. If we play the same type of ball it could back fire. Slowing down Cane or Justin will not be using their strengths as PG's and I think we have some pretty good players in transition. So I agree you have to plan with your roster in mind. This year's roster screams fast and aggressive in my mind. We are not going to sacrifice playing great D...we all know this. If we need to use the bench...we need to use the bench.

If we try to play UCF slow and let Tacko affect every shot...we could lose. We have to get him tired and beat him down the court. Last year we scored 49 points in their arena (a season low) and 60 at home (also a season low I think).

[justinhub2003]

Originally Posted by waterhead

I get playing to your strengths etc. Last year we had a slowish, methodical PG who was allergic to turnovers. He was not a dynamic guard and perhaps we were best served slowing the pace down for him and just playing great D to maximize our chances. I think we kind of let 1 player dictate how the rest of the team had to play.

This year I don't think that is going to be our strong point. If we play the same type of ball it could back fire. Slowing down Cane or Justin will not be using their strengths as PG's and I think we have some pretty good players in transition. So I agree you have to plan with your roster in mind. This year's roster screams fast and aggressive in my mind. We are not going to sacrifice playing great D...we all know this. If we need to use the bench...we need to use the bench.

If we try to play UCF slow and let Tacko affect every shot...we could lose. We have to get him tired and beat him down the court. Last year we scored 49 points in their arena (a season low) and 60 at home (also a season low I think).

Watching Cane play at SH, he was pretty damn effective against half court defenses. Against a half court defense, you need guys that are quick and can attack to pull defenders away from their spots and Cane will give us that.

So regardless of how we fast or slow we play on the road, I think Cane's quickness in the half court and willingess to attack, should help us be a lot more effective.

[waterhead]

Originally Posted by justinhub2003

Watching Cane play at SH, he was pretty damn effective against half court defenses. Against a half court defense, you need guys that are quick and can attack to pull defenders away from their spots and Cane will give us that.

So regardless of how we fast or slow we play on the road, I think Cane's quickness in the half court and willingess to attack, should help us be a lot more effective.

I agree...Cane is going to keep the defense moving and hopefully switching a lot more than we have been used to.

Then you look at replacing KJ. I think we all believe Cumberland will be a lot more effective at both driving and shooting. But what about a guy like Williams? KJ was not a guy who was breaking down guys off the dribble and getting in the lane and to add insult to injury he wasn't a very good 3 point shooter. He shot 31% or so his last two years from 3. KJ was a good defender but we hear Williams may be as well and he almost has to be a better guy to get in the lane and I can't imagine him shooting a lot worse than 31% from 3.

I would imagine it might take a year or two for Williams to get familiar enough with the defense to give us the same quality that KJ did...but Williams might not be too far behind on D and his offense should be at least game to match what KJ was doing (or not doing). It is entirely possible our freshman sub will give us more in the plus minus column than our 4th year senior from last year. Which would mean ALL of KJ's minutes could be an improvement this year. The 10 or so that Cumberland will get will be an improvement. The 15 or so that Williams might get could also be an improvement...or at least a wash.

We need to get in the lane more on the road and many of the replacements to the guys who are gone will be able to do that. Cane and Justin...Cumberland and Williams.

[ThomasMac]

Not sure if this was posted anywhere (sorry if re-post) but NCAA.com has us on their "6 Darkhorse Final Four Contenders" list.

[justinhub2003]

Originally Posted by waterhead

I agree...Cane is going to keep the defense moving and hopefully switching a lot more than we have been used to.

Then you look at replacing KJ. I think we all believe Cumberland will be a lot more effective at both driving and shooting. But what about a guy like Williams? KJ was not a guy who was breaking down guys off the dribble and getting in the lane and to add insult to injury he wasn't a very good 3 point shooter. He shot 31% or so his last two years from 3. KJ was a good defender but we hear Williams may be as well and he almost has to be a better guy to get in the lane and I can't imagine him shooting a lot worse than 31% from 3.

I would imagine it might take a year or two for Williams to get familiar enough with the defense to give us the same quality that KJ did...but Williams might not be too far behind on D and his offense should be at least game to match what KJ was doing (or not doing). It is entirely possible our freshman sub will give us more in the plus minus column than our 4th year senior from last year. Which would mean ALL of KJ's minutes could be an improvement this year. The 10 or so that Cumberland will get will be an improvement. The 15 or so that Williams might get could also be an improvement...or at least a wash.

We need to get in the lane more on the road and many of the replacements to the guys who are gone will be able to do that. Cane and Justin...Cumberland and Williams.

I’m almost willing to bet jarron has more steals than kJ. kJ’s defense is the kind that doesn’t show up in stat sheets. Jarron on the other hand will be a worse defender but actually force more TO imo

[waterhead]

Originally Posted by justinhub2003

I’m almost willing to bet jarron has more steals than kJ. kJ’s defense is the kind that doesn’t show up in stat sheets. Jarron on the other hand will be a worse defender but actually force more TO imo

Cumberland already averaged more steals per 40 minutes last year. I agree...it's going to happen. Jarron led the team per 40 minutes in steals. I just hope Williams can come in and lock down "on ball" on KJ level when he gets in the game. Cumberland's D is not about lateral quickness but more about instinct. Williams will be more of an "on ball" defender.

[waterhead]

Only one more week until full on practice game updates red and black. Then exhibition of course after that. I can't wait anymore!! I wish UC basketball was a 24-7 topic NOW...but off season is hard to wait.

[jacobkdoyle]

Originally Posted by justinhub2003

I’m almost willing to bet jarron has more steals than kJ. kJ’s defense is the kind that doesn’t show up in stat sheets. Jarron on the other hand will be a worse defender but actually force more TO imo

I wouldn't be surprised about that at all. I feel like Johnson was a little more active in making plays as a defender his SR year. But in general, I agree.